St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-07-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

fashionable, do not see WHY tue pco-
ple of Washington leave their own
homes here every season and seek
summer resort, when, in fact, Washing
ton would do we'll to set up itself as
first class summer resort, nearly all ne
cessary conditions being extremely IA
vorable. The city is almost surrounded
by water there are always plenty of a
musements, and novelties, and the eli
mate and temperature, seem almost per-
lection. All last summer the thermom-
eter did not 60 over SO degrees, and on
ly twice this summer, has it reached 80,
The Sunday summer concerts III the
Smithsonian grounds have been aban-
doned for the present, but it is proposed
to resume these charming entertain
ments as soon as sufficient funds for
the purpose can be provided.
War on the caterpillar is the order of
the day in the Capitol City, and score
or more of men are engaged in destroy
ing the cocoons of these pests, which
infest the stately shade trees of the
many beautiful parks.
In religious circles last Sunday the
attraction was the Rev. Sam Small, the
Georgia evangelist, who preached most
effectively, and in style picturesquely
original, to two immense congregations,
hundreds standing, and hundreds being
turned .away. Mr. Small's witty sallies
drew forth involuntary applause and
recalled the sayings of the noted char
acter be formerly portrayed; "Old ST."
of the "Atlanta Constitution
The burst of martial feeling over the
incident of the Confederate battle-fags
is most unfortunate, and it appears was
unnecessarily magnified, perhaps for
political purposes, as is evidenced by
Mr. Sherman's bitter remarks on the
subject. l think the great republic of
modern times might we'll follow, in
that respect, the example of the great
republic of ancient times, mighty Rome,
who decreed no triumphs to Generals
for victories won over their own fellow
citizens, and permitted no monuments
to be built to perpetuate the unhappy
memories of civil wars. | believe it
would be best for the reunited repub-
lie to gather all of our battle flags, both
Federal and Confederate, and make a
big bonfire of them, to the tune of the
"Star Spangled Banner" and Dixie,
played by the Boys in Blue, and the
Boys in Gray in front of the White
House. Such generous, magnanimous
deeds, would be applauded by enthusi-
astic thousands and be the pyre of all
sectional animosities, for "peace hath
her victories not less renowned than
War;
Madam Grundy and her coterie are
discussing choice bit of social gossip
of highly sensational nature. A chief
clerk of one of the Departments under
the late Republican administration, was
a great society favorite, regarded as a
confirmed bachelor and had for Is years
boarded at swell house in the West
End, presided over by handsome and
highly respectable widow. The other
day the clerk quietly changed lodgings,
and the charming widow filled out an
application for divorce, setting forth
that the pair had been secretly married
in Baltimore fourteen years ago. Thus
this man so prominent in official and
social circles has been leading double
life, a living lie, all these years. "Mer-
cy me! how much sweetness | have
wasted on that man." sadly exclaimed
fair clerk in his former Department and
many others echo this disappointed
maiden's sentiment and grieye as those
without hope. But donot see how the
chief clerk should be condemned with
out mercy as there are extenuating cir
cumstances in the case the principal
one being that he is fit type of the
hypocrisy of the party which appointed
him. Like many of the disconsolate
bellies Of Washington, | dismiss him
with a long-drawn sigh.
At last, Speaker Carlisle has yielded
to the pressure upon him Of Congress
men and business men and openly an
nounces himself in favor of an extra
session Of Congress. But, it is extreme
ly doubtful whether the President
deems the financial situation of the
country warrants measure so extraor-
binary. He has firmly opposed an extra
session since the question was first agl-
tated, and he is man who very seldom
changes his position. Therefore, /
think there will be no extra session.
Another view of the matter, is, that it
would afford the Republicans a much
coveted opportunity to make political
capital, and of course their leaders are
in the affirmative.
The colored people of Washington,
were both surprised and delighted the
other night by President Cleveland at
tending the Commencement OF their
High School and distributing the diplo-
mas. By such little courtesies the Pres
ident has made himself immensely pop-
ular with our colored citizens.
To-day that eminent nrelata nar5;pa1